In September 1948, a meeting was convened at the residence of Mr. George Fox to establish a new Baptist Church, attended by forty-three individuals. Mr. Worth Black commenced the meeting with an opening prayer, while Mr. Horace Lawing served as the moderator. Mrs. Tyson Lawing was appointed as church clerk, and Mrs. Horace Lawing was selected as secretary and treasurer. The meeting successfully raised $2,000, and Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Lawing generously donated 1.54 acres of land. Mr. Carl Hewitt proposed the name "Friendly Chapel Baptist Church" for the new congregation. It was agreed that services would be conducted in private homes until the church building was completed. Mr. George Shull concluded the meeting with a closing prayer.

 

     The initial building, primarily constructed using cement blocks, measured 30’x50’ and was finalized in November 1948, at a total cost of $5,547.22. Given that the facility served as an auditorium, it was also utilized for Sunday school classes. The inaugural service took place on November 21, 1948, featuring a choir composed of approximately fifty members under the direction of Mr. RQ Howard, with Miss Ruth Howard accompanying on piano. Rev. Haskel Sides recited passages from Psalm 103, and an invitation was extended, resulting in the conversion of four individuals.

 

     On December 20, 1948, Mr. Rhyne Henley, Mr. Horace Lawing, and Mr. Tyson Lawing were ordained as deacons, joining the previously ordained deacons Mr. George Fox and Mr. George Shull, thereby establishing the first deaconate of Friendly Chapel.

 

     In September 1950, Friendly Chapel Baptist Church was admitted into the South Fork Baptist Association. At this time, Mr. Vance Lawing served as choir director, with Miss Shirley as the pianist. The final payment for the church was completed in August 1951, shortly followed by the addition of classrooms and restrooms.

 

     In February 1959, a parcel of land measuring 0.82 acres was acquired from Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Poole for $500.00. The first wedding ceremony held at Friendly Chapel occurred on October 25, 1959, between Miss Jean McCorkle and Mr. Bobby Shull, officiated by Rev. Floyd Beaver. In 1961, the church hosted its inaugural Bible School, during which four individuals were saved, under the direction of Mrs. Floyd Beaver. Moreover, that same year, the church procured an organ, with Mrs. Darris Lee Turbyfill designated as the organist.

 

     In 1963, Friendly Chapel voted in favor of constructing a new church facility. Though the congregation was without a pastor at the time, they believed that divine providence would facilitate the endeavor, and construction commenced. Mr. Preston Turbyfill and the Harris brothers, one of whom is the father of the current pastor, were engaged in the building process. Plans were drafted by Mr. Turbyfill, Mrs. Tyson Lawing, and DL Turbyfill. A total of $20,800 was secured in loans to construct a building measuring 40’x86’, which included a front porch with four columns, a back porch, a baptistery (with a mural painted by Mr. Joe Burke), a nursery, a full basement containing eight Sunday school rooms, an office space, and two restrooms. Some aspects of the construction were carried out by church members, and the pulpit furniture, pews, and piano were transferred from the old church to the Sunday school rooms of the new facility.

 

     On July 5, 1964, Friendly Chapel conducted its first baptism in the newly unfinished church, which included Mrs. Peggy Reel, Miss Vickie McGee, Miss Jerrie Stikeleather, Miss Becky Ballard, Miss Myrldene, Mr. Randy Carpenter, and Mr. Pete Wilkinson, all baptized by Rev. Morris Baker. Subsequently, the first morning service in the new church took place on September 13, 1964.

 

     On July 31, 1966, the church voted to purchase the Marvin Poole house and its surrounding land (4.5 acres) for $8,000. In August 1968, the church voted to install air conditioning at a cost of $1,800. The first church directory was published in 1970, and the loan for the new church facility was paid off on September 13, 1971. A paved parking lot was completed on August 30, 1972, and a new organ was installed on February 18, 1973. Construction of a new church parsonage began in March 1977 and was completed on September 3 of the same year. The church decided to undertake the construction of a Fellowship Building in July 1979, with work commencing in August 1979 and completed by March 1980. A new sign was erected in front of the church in April 1989. One of the current church vans was acquired in 2001, and in September of that year, the church organized a tent revival in collaboration with several area congregations. In 2004, the Sunday school addition was finalized. Further, a second bus was added in 2012, and a mission trip to Coal Wood, West Virginia, was initiated in 2013, followed by one to Vermont in 2014.

 

     Among notable events, Mrs. Shirley Dellinger served as pianist from 1950 to 2014, while Mrs. Helen Turbyfill served as organist from 1961 to 2019. Currently, Mrs. Ann Simmons serves as the pianist.

 

     As of 2020, we commemorate 72 years as a church and 56 years in our present building. We express profound gratitude to God for the blessings bestowed upon us. Furthermore, we recognize and thank the pastors, deacons, and all other officers who have contributed throughout our rich history, and we look forward to the blessings that God continues to promise for our future.